Botcha fears up to 30 MLAs will defect to other parties

Giving credence to the speculation that several Seemandhra Congress MLAs, including Ministers, were planning to defect to other political parties, PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana on Friday said a list of nearly 30 such leaders had been compiled.

Accusing these legislators of being ‘weak-minded,’ Mr. Satyanarayana said they had a vested interest and hunger for power. “None of them will win the elections in 2014,” he added.

His candid admission confirmed fears about defection of several Seemandhra Congress MLAs due to the party’s bleak prospects in the general elections due to the Centre’s decision to divide the State. “In a way it is good for any party. People will not spare such leaders and teach them a fitting lesson,” he said.

It is widely believed that some MLAs belonging to the Kapu community are planning to join the TDP. Most of them were with the TDP before joining the Praja Rajyam Party launched by actor-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi in 2009. The PCC has already furnished a list of 26 MLAs and Ministers, who are expected to quit.

The last few days saw hectic activity among Seemandhra Congress MLAs. Salur MLA Rajanna Dora joined the YSR Congress last week in the presence of Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy. Similarly, there is talk that former Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao would follow suit very soon.

Clear indication

Another interesting development was the clear indication that Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao was all set to join the TDP along with four or five Congress MLAs belonging to the Kapu community.

The presence of TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu at the wedding of Mr. Srinivasa Rao’s daughter in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday only lent credence to the reports.

JC defiant

There is also speculation that former Minister J. C. Diwakar Reddy was also planning his next move before quitting the Congress.

He is already under fire from the party for openly criticising Congress president Sonia Gandhi for which he was served a show cause notice. Mr. Reddy continues to remain defiant and flays party leaders every other day.

The PCC president's name is wrongly mentioned as 'Botcha', it is 'Botsa'.

Slideshow

Workers carryingout repairs to Visakhapatnam District Collector's Office, as it was damaged in Cyclone Hudhud in 2014 October. The majestic heritage building was designed and built by Dutch engineering company Gannon Dunkerly in 1865 and completed by 1914. Photos: C.V. Subrahmanyam